Rebecca McDowell
Contributing Author
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Rebecca K. McDowell practiced consumer bankruptcy law for several years in the Eastern District of Michigan, representing Chapter 7 trustees as well as consumer debtors, before focusing her career on writing about the law and editing legal content. She has authored bankruptcy articles on Nolo.com and other bankruptcy sites in the Nolo Network. She holds a B.A. in English from Albion College and obtained her J.D. from Wayne State University Law School in Detroit.
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Articles By Rebecca McDowell
What Happens to My Cosigner if I File Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
If you file Chapter 13 bankruptcy and you have debt with a cosigner, your bankruptcy could affect the cosigner.
Judgment Liens in Bankruptcy: Can You Get Rid of Them?
A judgment lien occurs when a creditor sues you, gets a judgment against you, and files a lien against your property to satisfy the judgment. Under the right circumstances , you can avoid judgment liens in a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
Is Your Pension and 401(k) Exempt in Bankruptcy?
If you have a pension or other retirement plan and you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you can probably exempt at least some of your pension and protect it from the bankruptcy trustee.
What Is a Judgment Lien?
A judgment lien is a type of security interest that a judgment creditor can obtain against your property. Below you can learn how a creditor gets a judgment lien, what property the lien can affect, and more.
Should I Surrender My Car in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?
If you owe money on your car and you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you must decide whether you want to keep your car or surrender it.
How to Value Your Car in Bankruptcy
Valuing your car, van, truck, motorcycle or other vehicle is an important part of a bankruptcy case; when you file for bankruptcy, you must include a list of everything you own and how much each item is worth.
The Motor Vehicle Exemption in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
If you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you will most likely be able to exempt (protect) some equity in your car, van, truck, motorcycle, or other motor vehicle. If you can exempt enough equity, you'll be able to keep your car.
How to Value Your Home in Bankruptcy
Properly valuing your home in both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy is important. In some situations, your home's value will determine whether you can keep it, or whether you can strip junior mortgages off. Here's how to value real estate in bankruptcy.
Should I Refinance Before or After Bankruptcy?
If you intend to file bankruptcy but are also considering refinancing your mortgage, whether you refinance before or after will depend on a number of factors, including: